Tuesday, January 28, 2014

With “Bridgegate” looming over NJ Gov.Chris Christie’s head, donors
are abandoning him in large numbers; his favorable poll numbers are dropping
faster than the knickers of the Kardashian of the month. There have been calls
for him to step down as chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association. You
have to hand it to the Democrats when it comes to character assassination. If
they were in the restaurant business, a Three Star Michelin rating would be most
appropriate. They have managed to sully the reputations of George W. Bush,
Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and the collective reputation of Tea Party members while upholding the reputations of
inveterate liars like Bill and Hill, Harry Reid, Debbie Wasserman Schultz,
Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi.

While Democrats squeal ad
nauseumabout the need for
bi-partisanship, the president has used executive action to foist upon us, his
model of America, albeit one that functions sans the checks and balances our
founding fathers prescribed. Mr. President, your poll numbers are as low as
President Bush’s at his lowest ebb. Why would you think the nation has any more
confidence in you than we had with your predecessor when we are still mired in
malaise. Six years into your administration! Most of us don’t see the happy
face picture paintedby your gallery of sycophants.

Now that Christie is on the ropes , the Democrats will turn
their attention to any other viable Republican presidential candidate for 2016.
Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who will face a tough re-election challenge later
this year becomes a new target .

He has enjoyed a little
respite since he withstood a recall vote in 2012.This was instigated for the most part for his
steadfastness limiting the leverage of the municipal unions . He reined in
excessive spending so much so that in his recent state of the state address, he announced a budget surplus
in excess of $900 million.

Gov. Walker has come up with a novel idea – return some of
it back to the taxpayers! In this day and age of bloated government bureaucracy
how refreshing for someone to actually provide some help for the middle class
insteadof talking the intention to
death without doing a thing.

Had this been a Democratic governor, the surplus would
already be earmarked for administration to a bunch of political cronies for
another non-productive program; or beused to prop up anexisting one.

Gov. Walker has done a great service for the taxpayers of
his state. But he will certainly draw the wrath of the DNC which needs new
fodder for its wood chipping, character assassination machine.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Every year around the celebration of Dr. King’s birthday I get
a bad case of the might-have-beens. In the span of a few short years, we lost
JFK, RFK and MLK. Real leaders with vision.Today we are left with the cheap paste copies instead of gems.

We hear excuse after excuse of why things in the greatest
nation in the world cannot be improved. Democrats blame Republicans and vice
versa. We elected one man to lead us – Barak Obama – but his default
explanation for our lack of progress is partisan politics exacerbated by the fact he’s African-American. Most recently, he has intimated these feelings
in an article on the New Yorker Magazine website. Certainly
there is an element of truth to that. Just as, conversely, he mentions, he is
given a pass for the same reason.

We know there are
African-Americans who dislike whites because of their skin color. But it is
rarely, if ever, mentioned. Would Dr.
King remain silent if he were
seeingthe virulent images of young,
black thugs punching old menand women;
even children. Like we have seen in recent months?. And despite the
protestations of a media intent on affirming these attacks as race neutral, we
know otherwise. And the request for justice froma myopic and inept attorney general goes largely unheeded. As do the pleas from
the citizenry to ameliorate thecurrentAmerican malaise.

No, Mr. President, it’s not because you have a darker
complexion than those you believedislike you, it’s because your policies have been abject failures and your
antics over the last five years have been embarrassing. A recent poll among all
voters puts your approval rating at 39%.

Where are the shovel –readyjobs you promised? where is the unity you promised?where is health care reform? Reform? This is
a disaster that’s slowly unraveling around us. And please, Mr. President, don’t
have your staff fish out three letters from your constituents who will attest
to thewonders of the Affordable Care
Act when there are so many more who are less better off than they were before
you, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi decided to help us. Why is it we never hear
about those people. Don’t they write
letters?

And do you think Dr. King would stand idly by while you and
your Hollywood friends feast while so many go hungry. While so many are
teetering on the brink of disaster. Would he look the other way at the
profligate manner you and your family vacation on our dime.Sending a separate planeto deliver the family dog to a vacation
destination. Really, Mr. President?

Dr. King would be knocking down the White House door to
voice his disapproval of many of your policies which haveonly prolonged the suffering of all of us
especially, African –Americans. No jobs for black youths and violence
attenuating their ranks. An education system that pours more and more money
into the fire of failure. And most of all, Mr. Presidenthe would object to your using your race to
mask the failures of your administration.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

When the fraud case involving over a 100 New York City
Police and Firefighters was made known
last week I was disheartened like
everyone elseand more hardened by the
hypocrisy we see in every sector of our society.

During the crisis in 2001 police and fire personnel were in
an “all hands on deck” mode. I still have vivid memories of them sifting
through the broken bodies and debris holding out hope that maybe one
survivormight be found or one more positive
identification might be made so that families would be able to gain some level
of closure for their loved ones.

The bravery of the first responders on that day – walking into the most ominous of
circumstances was of Herculean proportions. Who would have ever venturedthe irreverent thought that some of these
individuals would have the temerity to game the system and tarnish the image of
New York City’s Finest and Bravest.

“As a New Yorker, as a U.S. citizen, I can
only express disgust at the actions of these individuals involved in this
scheme, particularly the 72 former members of the New York City Police
Department who have certainly disgraced themselves, embarrassed their families,
with their abuse of this system,” Police Commissioner William Bratton said at a
recent news conference. “The idea that many of them chose the events of 9/11 to
claim as the basis of the disability brings further dishonor to themselves.”

Those charged received as much as
$50,000 a year for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)claims allegedly
stemming from the trauma of 9/11. Also, indicted were the facilitators who
aided and abetted these miscreants.They
were identified as Raymond Lavallee, 83, a lawyer and former FBI agent and
Nassau County prosecutor; Thomas Hale, 89, a disability consultant; John
Minerva, 61, a union official for the Detectives’ Endowment Association; and
Joseph Esposito, 64, a retired police officer. Lavallee was also chief of the
rackets bureau in the Nassau County District Attorney’s office where he
probably picked up a few pointers.

According to the prosecutors, the defendants were meticulously instructed on
how to fail memory tests with plausibility, how to dress and how to behave. Like
the last rowgrammar school cheaters we
rememberfromour youth, theiranswers to questionswere
practically identical : “I nap on and off during the day;” “I have the TV on to
keep me company;” “I’m up and down all night long.” Well, it’s obvious they
weren’t the brightest bunch.

But perhaps the saddestrevelation in this sordid affair came from
Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance, Jr., : “This fraud not only forced
federal taxpayers to finance the lifestyles of New York scammers, it also took
away, importantly, the already limited resources we have for people who actually
suffered from psychiatric disabilities. That includes, of course, the brave
first responders who ran toward the fires on September 11th, and who now suffer
from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other serious but
very real psychiatric disabilities.”

Friday, January 10, 2014

In the wake of revelations that a Gov. Christie staff
memberhad a hand in the George
Washington Bridge lane closures, how refreshing was it that the governordid not waste any time firing those
responsiblefor the concomitant inconveniencingof all those residents in that area who use
that bridge in their daily commutes. Then, went to the affected area to offer a
heart felt apologyin person.

And who doesn’t feel as bit of sympathy for the governor who
didn’t have a Susan Rice on his staff to muddy the waters long enough to provide cover for the culpable with tales
of offending videos or other such nonsense.

Christie stood in frontof the media (much too long, in my opinion) to answer questions,
questions unlike the softballs tossed at President Obama who has skated by on
such questions regarding the Benghazi attack, the IRS scandal, Fast and Furious
and the Obamacare fiasco. His stock response is always he didn’t know anything
about it.

Christie, too, claimed to have been “blindsided” but promised to get to the bottom of the problem
and he won’t move with the glacial speed of the Obama administration.

This imbroglio over the “Bridgegate” could in the long run
be a blessing for the governor. First, he has already shown what a leader does
in a crisis – he acts. He has terminated the employment of those who have been
implicated in the case and has promised to provide additional information when
it becomes available. And other terminations, if necessary. Second, he has
provided a stark contrast between
himself and a sitting president who doesn’t seem to know how to lead. And most
importantly, Gov. Christie sees how carnivorous the media can be when it sees
blood in the water. A lesson he needed
to learn for a possible presidential run.

The media is already lining up and burning incense for Madame
Hillary for 2016. Her term assecretary
of state could only be characterized as disastrous. She actually said that
democratic reforms in Syria and Egypt were taking hold before the Arab spring,
then, of course, did a 180 in the opposite direction when all hell broke loose.
But as she likes to say what does it matter anyway at this point?

The Democrats are playing their usual game demonizing the
opposition, even a middle of the road Republican like Gov. Christie. But unlike others who
have been skewered like Sarah Palin, Todd Cruz, and Speaker Boehner, Christie,
in my opinion, will not only weather this storm but will come out stronger
because of it.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

When Bill deBlasio was inaugurated last week as the 109th
mayor of New York City there were a handful of speakers at the ceremony who took
the opportunity to lambast outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg for what they
believe his contribution to the widening gap between rich and poor in the city.
This, like the ongoing national debate, wasthe
recurring theme during the mayoralty primary and general election. And it does
have merit to a degree.

Real estate developers in Manhattan have enjoyed a boom in
Bloomberg’s 12 years in office and, for the most part, those developments have
been high end office buildings, retail outlets, condos and apartments.
Hopefully, Mayor deBlasio will be able to make the city more affordable for the
poor and the attenuating middle class. But this is not just a New York City
problem it’s a national problem, largely stemming from the dearthof jobs which never materialized from the
Obama White House. Certainly more jobs and training for those who want to work
would be a great tonic for narrowing the gap. Andfor improving a myriad of other social problems. Laying the blame on Mayor
Bloomberg seems unfair.

And yet during deBlasio’s inauguration we heard from a
few speakers, who instead of looking forward with hope, denounced Mayor Bloomberg who sat there
flummoxed. He looked like he would havebeen more comfortable in a dentist’s chair undergoing a root canal sans
anesthesia.

When the Rev. Frederick A. Lucas likened New York City to a
plantation, it was a travesty. And many people took offense. Rev. Clinton M.
Brown, a Baptist pastor from Brooklyn came to Lucas’ defense. “I think a lot of
people may not understand the symbolic use of language in the African-American
experience.” (See Rev. Jeremiah Wright.) Idon’t think Robert Langdon, the fictitioussymbologistfrom The Da Vinco Code, would have recognizedLucas’ comment for anything other than the
racially charged remark that it was.

Then there was Harry Bellefonte spewing nonsense about how
New Yorkhas contributed to our nation
having the largest prison population in the world. Jim Dwyer, who writes a
column in The New York Times, About New
York, debunked such nonsense. I have
observed Mr. Bellefonte’s musings over the yearsand have noticed he never misses an opportunity to
lower the limbo bar and the image of our nation when given a forum.

Perhaps to balance out the opprobrium, former President Bill
Clinton threw a few crumbs of thanks to Mayor Bloomberg . Of course with the
Clintons questions of motive always rise to the fore. Was he sincere or just
greasing the skids for a Hillary campaign contribution and endorsement in 2016?

But I do wish Mayor deBlasio success and that he keep his promise that “we will
succeed as one city.” And does not follow the divisive paradigm of President
Obama who also promised to bring our nation together.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

I’m always taken in by the ambivalence of this lyric. As
the seconds countdown to a new year we are always optimistic, drink in hand, and ready to toast, that the changes we seek in our personal lives and in the world at large will come to fruition.

The poor will share in the wealth of the world. Peace
will be a reality. Kindergarten bullies will stop assaulting their fellow classmates.
Our politicians will work for the common good and in the public interest. We’ll
all lose those extra five pounds we picked over the holidays. Gas prices will return
to 2008 levels. Journalism will make a comeback and report news instead of
manufacturing it.

Don’t hold your breath. Really, don’t hold your breath.
With the changes in our health care system your policy might not cover respiratory
ailments. And if it does, your deductible probably quadrupled. Let’s face it it’s
getting harder and harder to be optimistic. The difference between an optimist and
a pessimist, I like to think, is that the pessimist is better informed.

Generally speaking, knowledge and the thirst for it has
become something of an anathema. We glorify the idiot at the expense of the
competent. When I was in high school, we searched out those students who were
above average, even well beyond above average. There were special classes
called “honor classes” which sought to develop these students to their maximum
capabilities. These were to be the leaders of the future. But somewhere along
the line, probably in the nascent stages of political correctness, the focus
shifted to the incompetent and “special needs” classes. “Average” became the
new “above average.” Barely literate, you are now considered average. Congratulations
to us all, we’ve come a long way, baby.

So here we are embarking on a new year. Can change
happen? Of course. Yes, let’s be optimistic. Let’s hope the economy improves,
really improves; let’s hope the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate is resolved; let’s
hope the middle class can survive this dysfunctional administration and
congress. And most importantly, let’s hope political correctness is in our rear
view mirror next year at this time.